The Coroners Service in British Columbia has issued a warning about the health effects of wildfire smoke after the tragic death of a nine-year-old boy in the BC Interior, whose health condition worsened due to the smoke.

Carter Veigh died in 100 Mile House this week, according to a social media post by his mother.

The family has opened a page on GoFundMe to raise funds to support his parents and siblings.

For its part, the Coroners Service stated, “As the province experiences greater impacts from climate change, residents of British Columbia are learning more about the risks associated with wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and other environmental factors.”

The service pays attention to heat and smoke-related deaths, especially after the heat dome in 2021 caused over 600 fatalities.

The service also urges residents to sign up for automatic air quality alerts provided by the government, while being cautious when air quality is poor.

Wildfire smoke is particularly dangerous for those with heart and lung conditions, infants, young children, and the elderly.